# Parasol Mushroom (*Macrolepiota*)

The Parasol Mushroom looks like an umbrella! It grows in grassy areas and can be quite tall.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grassy fields
- **Also known as:** Giant Parasol, Macrolepiota procera

![Parasol Mushroom](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424581/objects/5102.jpg)

## Appearance

The Parasol Mushroom has a large, umbrella-shaped cap, often with brown scales on a lighter background, and a tall, slender stem. It stands out with a distinctive, free-moving ring on its stalk and pale gills underneath its impressive cap.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Basidiomycota
- **Class:** Agaricomycetes
- **Order:** Agaricales
- **Family:** Agaricaceae
- **Genus:** Macrolepiota

## Interesting facts

- It can grow super tall, sometimes over a foot, towering over other fungi!
- Its cap can grow larger than a dinner plate, making it very noticeable!
- The stem has a cool 'snake-skin' pattern, unique among many mushrooms.
- Young Parasol Mushrooms look exactly like little drumsticks before they open up!

## Special abilities

- **Spore Launcher:** The Parasol Mushroom can release billions of microscopic spores from its gills to travel on the wind, creating new fungi.
- **Nutrient Recycler:** The Parasol Mushroom has special enzymes to break down dead plants, returning vital nutrients to the soil.
- **Protective Shield:** The mushroom's scaly cap helps protect its delicate gills from drying out or damage from the elements.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-40 cm
- **Edible:** edible
- **Size:** 10-30 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** soil
- **Season:** Late summer to fall
- **Spore Color:** White

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [Black Slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — feeding on its cap and stem
- **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — munching on its tender parts
- **Depends on:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — breaking down its fallen leaves
- **Depends on:** [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) — decomposing its dead wood and leaves

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Parasol Mushroom?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Parasol Mushroom?

15-40 cm

### Is Parasol Mushroom edible?

edible

### How big is Parasol Mushroom?

10-30 cm

### Where is Parasol Mushroom usually found?

Grassy fields

### What does Parasol Mushroom grow on?

soil

### When is Parasol Mushroom in season?

Late summer to fall

### What color are Parasol Mushroom spores?

White

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [Parasol Mushroom: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/parasol-mushroom)